Ventilating device



Aug. 30, 1966 c. A. BEST VENTILATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May19, 1964 CHARLES A. BEST INVENTOR.

a E! II 4:. II M 4 AGENT Aug. 30, 1966 c. A. BEST VENTILATING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1964 CHARLES A. BEST INVENTOR.

BY AGENT United States Patent 3,269,296 VENTILATING DEVICE Charles A.Best, 10045 NE. Shaver, Portland, Greg. Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No.368,609 3 Claims. (CI. 98-67) This invention relates generally toimprovements in ventilating fixtures and more particularly to a chimneycap especially adapted for use in areas where winds are such as tooccasionally disrupt the normal draft within a chimney.

A primary purpose of this invention is the provision of a novel chimneycap or ventilating fixture of the character described capable ofinducing chimney draft by directing the wind flow to cause an area oflow pressure within the fixture.

A second purpose of this invention is the provision of a ventilatingfixture having wind deflecting means capable of convenient positioningthereon at the time of installation for most eflicient operation inaccordance with conditions as above pointed out.

Another purpose of this invention is the provision of a chimney cap ofpleasing appearance, positive in operation without reliance, asheretofore, upon movable, wind-actuated means which not only requiremaintenance but are also susceptible to rust and corrosion causing themto become inoperable.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention in anoperative position upon a chimney top.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of FIGURE 1 with fragments broken away forconvenience of illustration.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional detail view on an enlarged scale takenapproximately along the line 33 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a further modified form of theinvention.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of FIGURE 5 rotated through 90 degrees,and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of brackets utilized inthe embodiment shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

With continuing reference to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like parts, and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, theventilating fixture made in accordance with this invention and indicatedgeneral-1y at 1 is superimposed upon chimney C to which it may becemented or bonded if desired or necessary. The main body of the fixturecomprises a hollow, rectangular vertically disposed housing 2 of castcement or the like having a vertical passageway 2A therethrough andopenings 3A and 4A in its end walls 3 and 4 and openings 5A and 6A inside walls 5 and 6 respectively. The housing 2 is provided with aperimetrical shoulder 10 (FIGURE 3) rel-ieved along its top marginalsurface as at 11 to provide a recess for stabilized reception of arectangular sheet metal frame 12.

An upwardly inclined deflector plate 13 may 'be struck upwardly from thesheet metal frame '12 as an integral part thereof, as shown, andstabilized by brackets 14 secured in any suitable manner such as bysoldering, spot welding, riveting or the like to the underside of thedeflector plate 13 and to the top flange of the frame 12. Although notshown, it will be readily understood that the deflector plate may beformed from a separate piece of sheet metal and secured along one of itssides to the frame 12. The frame is of substantially channel'sectionhaving a top flange 12A supported within the recess 11 and a bottomflange 15 in facial contact with the underside of the shoulder 10. Whenso installed, the frame '12 and deflector plate are firmly attached tothe top of the ventilator and are thus prevented from vibrating orrattling as a result of Wind forces from any direction.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the openings 3A and 5A are providedwith louvers 16 and 17 carried by frames 18 and 19 each of which isprovided with a pair of integral tabs 18A and 19A bent outwardly fromtheir respective frames for firm clamping engagement with the innerwalls of the vertical passageway 2A.

In the first modification illustrated in FIGURE 4, the structure of thehousing 251 is identical with housing 2, shown and described in FIGURES1-3. The walls of this housing 21 are provided with draft openings24-27, but I dispense with the louvers shown in the first form of theinvention. I also dispense with the upwardly inclined deflector plate 13and instead rely upon the flat limperforate top surface 28 of a frame 29for wind deflecting purposes. This form of the invention is for use inareas where air turbulence caused by local obstructions result in windsfrom various directions including downward air currents.

In the further modification illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, I provide ahousing 30 having a vertical passageway 30A therethrough and openings 31and r32 provided in adjacent walls thereof. In this form of theinvention, 11 dispense with the frame 12 of FIGURES 1-3 and insteadprovide an inclined deflector plate 34 having an edge portion 35' bentdownwardly and inwardly as shown for firm engagement with the undersideof a shoulder 36 of the housing. The ends of this edge portion are bentupwardly as at 35A to prevent any lateral movement of the frame. Thedeflector plate 34 is further stabilized in its inclined position by apair of brackets 37 of angular section secured at their upper ends tothe underside of the deflector plate in any approved manner andsimilarly secured at their bottom ends to an angular cap strip =38. Thebrackets 37 are provided with flanges 39 (FIGURE 7) to further securethe deflector against accidental or unintentional displacement. Due tothe inherent flexibility of the deflector plate, it will be readilyunderstood that the deflector assembly in its entirety may beadvantageously sprung into engagement with the shoulder 66 or removedtherefrom for re-positioning without the use of tools of any kind. Tofurther enhance such secure engagement, I bend the ends of the inwardlyturned corner portions of the deflector plate upwardly into engagementwith the adjacent surfaces of the shoulder as at 35A. Louvers 33 areprovided within the housing in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed.

Both forms of the louvered chimney caps will be positioned so that theinclined deflector plates 6'4 and 13 are, as far as possible, crosswiseto the prevailing wind direction. In locations where the prevailing windis essentially at right angles to the deflector, it is necessary toprovide only one of the openings with louvers since the upwardlydirected flow of air within the housing will influence the lesser flowof air entering the other opening in a like direction. In the abovedescribed configuration the flow of air through and over the chimney capresults in an area of reduced air pressure beneath the upper end of thedeflector plate 34. The combined influence of the area of reducedpressure and the upwardly directed vflow of air will result in a draftbeing induced within the chimney. The louver attaching tabs permit easyrepositioning of the louvers for purposes of determining the mostadvantageous configuration. Air flowing in a direction opposite to thePatented August 30, 113(7136 prevailing direction of wind will bediverted from entering the chimney, to a considerable extent, throughthe openings, thus preventing any downward drafts within the chimney.

Although I have the invention applied to a chimney, this does notnecessarily prescribe any limits of utility since obviously the devicemay be advantageously used in any other installation where ventilationinduced by airflow and draft is desired.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A ventilating fixture for a chimney comprising in combination,

a hollow rectangular housing having openings in at least two of itswalls and terminating at its upper end in an outwardly extendingperimetrical shoulder,

said shoulder having upper and lower surfaces and an end wallsubstantially perpendicular to said surfaces,

louver means mounted within certain of said openings,

an upwardly inclined rectangular deflector plate of flexible sheet metaland integral with shoulder attachment means, and

said attachment means including angularly related portions embracingsaid surfaces and end wall on at least two sides of said shoulder.

2. A ventilator fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachmentmeans comprises a rectangular frame of sheet metal embracing each ofsaid surfaces and end wall of said shoulder, and including uprightbracket means interconnecting said frame and said plate for reinforcingthe plate against wind-deflecting forces.

'3. A ventilating fixture as claimed in claim -1 wherein said portionsare integral with said plate at spaced apart points and embrace saidshoulder on opposite sides of said housing whereby deformation of saidplate will cause relative movement between said portions to enable saidportions to be sprung outwardly for embracing engagement with saidshoulders.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 30,630 12/ 1894Taylor.

887,677 5/ 1908 Marcks 9 877 2,7 04,503 3 L955 Roos 9868 3 ,125,942 319-64 Smith 98--73 FOREIGN PATENTS 195,01 7 1 l9 3 8 Switzerland.

FR'EDERICK L. MATTESON, iJR., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner.

C. R. REMKE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A VENTILATING FIXTURE FOR A CHIMNEY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AHOLLOW RECTANGULAR HOUSING HAVING OPENINGS IN AT LEAST TWO OF ITS WALLSAND TERMINATING AT ITS UPPER END IN AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIMETRICALSHOULDER, SAID SHOULDER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES AND AN END WALLSUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SURFACES, LOUVER MEANS MOUNTEDWITHIN CERTAIN OF SAID OPENINGS, AN UPWARDLY INCLINED RECTANGULARDEFLECTOR PLATE OF FLEXIBLE SHEET METAL AND INTEGRAL WITH SHOULDERATTACHMENT MEANS, AND SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS INCLUDING ANGULARLY RELATEDPORTIONS EMBRACING SAID SURFACES AND END WALL ON AT LEAST TWO SIDES OFSAID SHOULDER.